LEAP fifth grade students divvy-up Texas

Zeverly Hatcher, Maude Laird Middle School assistant principal shakes hands with Haylie Davis as Taylor Walker and Kristen Clower wait to begin their LEAP presentation. Texas was recently divided into five separate states according to the Articles of Annexation by the Kilgore fifth graders in the Gifted and Talented program.

Carla Nault, LEAP instructor for Kilgore Independent School District, said students worked in groups to promote their state in a mock Chamber of Commerce Convention.

Nault said research skills, computer skills and communication skills were put to the test for this project. "Each group of students chose a chairman to coordinate the project," said Nault. "A list of tasks had to be completed for the competition and displayed creatively."

Nault said each new state required a name, bird, tree, capital city, governor and two senators. "Maps with major cities highlighted, a map showing topography was created. A state seal and motto were also created," said Nault.

Nault said the students gave a short history of each state, a graph showing pertinent data and items such as a list of famous people, trade agreements, travel brochures, maps of major highways, natural resources and crops, products and industries.

Grace Whitfield, fifth grader and project member said the most difficult part was getting all of the tasks completed on time. "My favorite part of the project was creating the products and using the computer for our research," said Whitfield.

Nault said she teaches the program with Nelda Densman. "Pat Nault, Duane Deen, Tamara Dean, Nancy Roberts and Zeverly Hatcher were the judges," said Nault. Nault said the students in the

LEAP program used skills they have learned in the program for this project. "Under pressure these students were able to communicate and put together informative creative products," said Nault. "Our goal is to equip students with the skills to prepare them for middle school, high school and on to college and I am very proud of their hard work." Students in the program are

Don Andrade, Shelby Cayce, Kristen Clower, Chris Davis, Haylie Davis, Jessie Hope, Colby Johnston, Anna Grace Miller, Chloe Nisbett, Trevor O'Quinn, Megan Poe, Marcus Shephard, Nicholas Sosa, Kaitlyn Stoner, Deonna Thurmond, Taylor Walker, Victoria Way, Grace Whitfield, Seth Williams and Rachel Wright.